Wall cabinet



y 22, 1951 d E L. GIST 2,553,965

WALL-CABINET Filed July 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY May 22, 1951 E. GIST 2,553,965

WALL CABINET Filed July 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY Patented May 22, 1951 i I UNITED STATES PAT I OFFICE WALLCABINET Elmar L. Gist, Cleburne, Tex. Application July 5, 1945, Serialhim-603 ,1311

1 Claim.

This invention relates to wall cabinets, and the like, for installationin frame walls having a space therein and its principal object residesin the provision "Of'a cabinet especially adapted to frame buildings,particularly frame wall structures conventionally comprising wall boardor shiplap secured on each side of two by four studding, or the like,whereby a space is provided therebetween.

A prime objectof the-invention i's'manifest in the provision of a morespacious wall cabinet than the conventional structure yet withoutincreasing the size, of, the conventional openings thereto thusaffording. an arrangement whereby a greater storage space for such itemsas toiletries, medicaments, and the like, is provided.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision, of a wallcabinet which may be arranged in any wall structure of the typementioned and utilized for any purpose including book cases, and thelike, and whereby the contents may be retained out of sight, if desired,and made conveniently accessible through a relatively small opening inthe wall.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of a storagearrangement which may be compactly disposed within a minimum of spaceand prefabricated in various sizes to suit the individual need yet sostandardized as to be capable of installation in any conventional wallstructure of the character described when the structure is erected.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects willbecome manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection withthe appended drawings wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the invention installed in awall section having an opening therein and showing the sliding unit ofshelves, a portion of the wall being cut away to illustrate others ofthe shelves in the said unit.

Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of a fragmentary portion of awall of the shelf unit showing one of the adjustable shelf brackets.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the rollers in the shelf unitassembly and illustrating a portion of one of the rails.

Figure 4 illustrates, in perspective, a fragmentary portion of a wallstructure showing portions of the wall cut away illustrating the shelfassembly.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the invention installed forperpendicular operation with respect to an opening in the wall andillustrating the operating weights.

tration of a modified form of the adjustable shelf-bracket employed inFigures 5 and 6,-and

Figure B is a fragmentary plan view of the shelf the structure-shown inbracket assembly shown in Figure '7 illustrating the bracketin dottedlines;

It is contemplated that theinvention be sostandardiz'ed as to beadaptable to any type of conventional structure where at least a recessin the wall can be provided for installation. As

stated, it is especially suitable for use in frame structures havinghollow walls supported b-y' studding ofstandarddimensions, such as fouror six inches, where proper framing can be acings and other interiorappointments.

compli's'hed to fit the: cabinet into its surround- Accordingly, theinvention comprises a housing I preferably of substantially greaterlength than breadth and of a depth suitable for installation betweenwall boards fixed to conventional four or six inch studding, as shown inFigures 4 and 6. Th housing I can be firmly fixed in a frame 2 providedtherefor and an opening 3 in the wall will afford access to the housingI. The opening 3 may have a suitable frame 4 to enhance its appearanceand a closure 5 provided for the opening 3.

It is desirable to fabricate the housing I from metal or some type offiber or plastic, such as Masonite. A unitary arrangement of shelves 6,having a depth slightly less than the housing I is slidably arranged inthe latter and is preferably provided with a set of rollers I which maybe of any desirable form, or may even be in the form of steel balls, orthe like, whereby to insure the smooth and easy movement of the shelfassembly 6 longitudinally of the housing I. The rollers I, or theirequivalent, are adapted to operate along tracks or rails 8 arrangedalong the bottom of the housing I, as shown in detail in Figure 3.

The shelf assembly 6 comprises a box frame 9 in which is arranged aplurality of shelves I0 arranged in any desirable manner and madeadjustable so that they may be changed to accommodate different uses.Figures 2, 7 and 8 show details of the arrangement by which suchadjustments may be accomplished. In Figure 2 a support II is illustratedwhich is formed from a rod and has its ends bent inwardly and upwardlyand are inserted in holes I2 suitably spaced and paired, as shown inFigure 4, so that the memhers I I can be moved upwardly or downwardly tospace the shelves in any desired manner.

The housing I is placed in the wall cavity so that its longitudinaldimension is either horizontal, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, orvertical, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The opening 3 is arrangedin accordance with the symmetrical location thereof on the wall [3 andthe housing I situated behind the latter so that it extends beyond theopening 3 on both sides, or top and bottom, depending upon itsapplication, so that the opening will be at the approximate center ofthe housing I, as shown in Figures 1 and 5.

The shelf assembly 6 being approximately twothirds the length of thehousing I will permit the location of all of the shelves I thereinbefore the opening 3 as the shelf assembly 6 is moved longitudinallywithin the housing I, that is, access may be had to any of the shelvesl0 through the opening 3 by manipulating the shelf assembly 6 past theopening 3.

Obviously, a greater cabinet capacity is provided by the invention thanis afforded by the conventional type of closet since a part of thecontents may be stored behind the wall [3 out of sight even from theopening 3 until the shelves are moved before the opening 3 to gainaccess to them. In outward appearance, however, the cabinet is similarto any conventional closet of like character and use.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 the shelfassembly 6 is movable vertically of the housing I with respect to theopening 3 and is provided with weights M, or the like, fixed to cords I5which are passed over rollers 16 in the sides of the housing I. Theweights facilitate the movement of the shelf assembly B permitting thelatter to be moved to any position with respect to the opening 3 so thatthe shelves l0 may be selectively brought into alignment with theopening.

It is obvious that various types of adjusting devices for the shelvesIt] can be provided and these illustrated and described herein aremerely suggestive although desirable. This is also true of the rollerand track arrangement I and 8. Other modifications may also be resortedto from time to time without departing from the spirit and intent of theinvention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a wall cabinet adapted to be installed in a hollow wall having anopening in one side, the combination comprising a housing arranged insaid wall and extending beyond the vertical sides of said opening, acase slidably supported in said housing and having a horizontaldimension not exceeding two-thirds that of said housing, a plurality ofshelves in said case capable of accessibility through said opening assaid case is moved longitudinally of said housing, and a closure forsaid opening.

ELMAR L. GIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 231,369 Stewart Aug. 17, 1880895,919 Wailes Aug. 11, 1908 899,903 Reid et a1. Sept. 29, 19081,636,474 Lavallee July 19, 1927 1,802,102 Ziegler et al. Apr. 21, 19312,193,372 Miller Mar. 12, 1940 2,421,439 Smith June 3, 1947

